Book rack



June 25, 1946. M. SWEARNGIN BOOK RACK Filed July 25, 1945 IN V EN TOR; flizalre a? Save c002 2' 71,

Patented June 25,1946

- 5 3100 RAQK.

' i I Swearngin, Washington, D. C. I Applicati'onil uly 25, 1945,fsria1fN 606,932 j Thi invention relates to a portable book rack, rest or holder.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated character which, at the option of the user, may be suspended or stood up holding open a book, such as a recipe book, for the convenient perusal of any portion of the contents thereof for guidance in the preparation of various edible's and beverages.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of construction of the device, the economy with which it may be produced, and the utility and eificiency derived therefrom.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in whichv Fig. 1 i a perspective view of a device embodying the feature of the present invention, the device being shown suspended.

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the device stood Fig. 3 is a front elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view.

In accordance with the invention the device comprises only two parts H] and II, respectively, which are secured to each other. .The parts it! and H may be made from the same kind of material, and such material, advantageously, may be sheet metal, plastic, or closely analogous material.

The main part In made of the mentioned material consists of a rectangular panel I2 having a forwardly extending ledge I3 in continuation thereof along the lower edge, and a depending reinforcing flange M in continuation of the panel along the upper edge thereof at the rear. The ledge I3 is disposed at a right angle to the panel l2, and the flange l4 projects downwardly at an acute angle with respect to the panel,

The part II is made of sheet material in the form of a strip which is bent to provide a suspension member [5, a base member l6 and a clamping member I! in continuation of each other. The part II is disposed centrally of the main part and is fixedly secured thereto in any practical manner, as by spot welding or soldering, if the parts are metal, and by cementin if the parts are of plastic or of analogous material. The members l5 and I6 are straight and perpendicular to each other, while the member I1 is angular. The part I l is secured to the flange l4 and the ledge l 3. The base member [6 extends rearwardly of the panel l2, the suspension 3'Claims. (or 45. 58).

member l5 is disposedat the rear of the'panel and projects above it, and the clamping member I! projects upwardly from the ledge l3 at an angle toward the panel. The panel is inclined or slants upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the base member l6, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 the device is shown suspended from a wall, and for this purpose the upper projecting end of the suspension member [5 has provision, such as a hook or a hole Hi, to receive a nail, pin or the like on the wall. A book B, indicated in dot-and-dash lines, is shown held open on the device. The book rests on the ledge I3 in contact with the panel l2 under the clamping pressure exerted by the member I 1 on the two exposed pages of the book, Thus, the book is not only held in place on the device, but the pages are kept from turning by the clamping member l1 cooperating with the panel l2 and its ledge l3. For instance, an instruction book held suspended adjacent a table or work bench, may be read conveniently, leaving the hands of the reader free for carrying out manual operations according to the instructions appearing in the book.

In Fig. 2, the device is shown standing on a horizontal surface, which may be that of the top of a table or work bench. In such case, the base member 16, together with the lower edge of the panel projecting on opposite sides of said member, serve adequately as a means whereby the device rests on the supporting surface in a stable manner with the panel 12 slanted upwardly and rearwardly. Obviously, a book may be held in the device while it is standing in the manner stated.

From the foregoing it will be understood that at the option of the user the device may be employed to suspend or stand a book in a position for reading it conveniently; and that the structural features of the device lend themselves to the production of a simple and inexpensive device of substantial design.

I claim: i

1. A device for holding a book comprising a main part made of sheet material and consisting of a panel having a forwardly extending ledge along the lower edge portion thereof, and a sec- 0nd part in the form of a strip of sheet material and consisting of a base member, a suspension member, and a clamping member, said second part secured to the main part with the base member extending from said ledge rearwardly of the panel, the suspension member extending upwardly from the base member at the rear of the panel, and the clamping member extending upwardly from the ledge at the front of the panel.

2. A device for holding a book comprising a main part made of sheet material and consisting of a panel having a forwardl extending ledge along the lower edge portion thereof at a'right angle thereto, and a depending reinforcing flange extending along the upper edge portion of the panel at an acute angle thereto, and a second part in the form of a strip of sheet material and consisting of a base member, a suspension member extending from the rear end of the base member perpendicularly thereto, and an angular clamping member extending upwardly from the front end of the base member, said suspension member secured to said flange and said clamping member secured to said ledge, the base member extending rearwardly of the panel to cooperate therewith to stand the device upright with the panel inclined, the suspension member disposed at the rear of the panel to suspend the device with the panel inclined, and the clamping member projecting upwardly at the front of the panel in cooperative relation thereto to retain a book resting on the ledge and contacting the panel.

3. A device for holding a book comprising a main part on which the book may rest, and a second part secured to said main part centrally thereof, said second part comprising a base member extending rearwardly, a suspension member extending upwardly from the base member at the rear of said main part, and a clamping member extending upwardly from the base member at the front of the main part, the base member in conjunction with the main part serving for standing the device upright with the main part inclined, the suspension member serving for suspending the device, and the clamping member serving for retaining the book either open or closed on said main part.

MILDRED SWEARNGIN. 

